Ain't No Rest for the Wicked

Note:  This post was originally written in May of 2012.  I misplaced it somehow and it never made the blog during it's most appropriate time.  I managed to accomplish two of the five goals listed...  I could have done better.

Cage the Elephant sings a song Ain't No Rest for the Wicked.  The following line of the courus goes money don't go on trees.

Yesterday marked the end of my first year of doctoral coursework.  I admit, I am relieved.

I have heard mixed reviews about what lies ahead.  Equal numbers of folks have told me that the first and second year are most difficult.  Given that there are only two years of course work, this matches what mathematicians would tell me are odds.  I have no idea what my experience with future course work will feel like, but I know I will not let my guard down and will prepare for a rough experience and expect the best.

In the mean time I have three weeks of "freedom." I plan to catch up on reading, run as much as I can, and enjoy the downtime.  I will probably also blog more than usual, so that is either a good or a bad thing depending on how closely you read.  I am certain by the time coursework resumes, I will be ready.

My summer bucket list:

1) Ride my bike to work (20 miles one way).  I am mostly scared of biking on the road... Is that weird?
2) Prepare to run a marathon in August.
3) Run three half marathons by August. (The physical challenges support my quest to gain zero pounds during doctoral study, but also support my emotional balance through cardio work)
4) Read fun things.  Listening to great things counts too.
5) Ride a horse.  I think horse racing is fascinating, I would like to know what makes it auxilleratzing.

Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.

Second Year Slump?

I know just enough to be disgruntled, but not enough to be dangerous.

I have started of the second year of my doctoral program with less enthusiasm than I had hoped for.  It took me several weeks to get to the bottom of what the reasons might be.  Here are the conclusions I have arrived at:

1. I am far enough into the program to feel proud of my progress, but have too much remaining to get overly excited.  This is just a reminder to keep my head down, and keep pushing forward until the light at the end of the graduation tunnel is closer.  Only two more years to go.
2. I have learned a great deal about how to be critical of many things: written materials, my own writing, the writing of others, processes, organizational structures, systemic privilege, APA, in addition to others, yet I do not feel as though I know enough to yet make positive change.  This point was articulated, perhaps ignited, by one of my professors today who was discussing keys to social justice training.  Her comments included the necessity to equip persons who are becoming aware of prejudice and privilege to also be equipped with tools to be an advocate and igniter of social change (Broido, 2012).   The advocacy tools are key to a person not getting bogged down in the disparity of privilege and challenging social structures.  While, I do not admit that the emotional realizations of doctoral study are nearly as emotionally salient as those of social justice training I do feel like the processing is similar.  I too need to continue to dive into my course materials and additional readings to further equip myself as a change agent on behalf of the higher education issues, and opportunities the academic opportunities afforded to me have uncovered.
3. On a personal note, I have slipped from my exercise regiment more than I would like to have.  That too is likely contributing to this hiccup and is a reminder to keep to my personal commitments.

By the end of this program I hope that my words are reversed, and that I “know enough to be dangerous and know better than to be disgruntled.”  In this sense I can be an active participant in change, and use that perspective to remain more optimistic that I am currently.

Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.

Blogging about Blogging

I have now blogged for an entire academic year (sort of).  I admit, I have enjoyed the process a great deal.  Regardless of whether people even look at this blog, I am a firm believer in reflection and this blog has been a great accountability measure for reflection.  This post is dedicated to the things I have learned about myself, and blogging since I started this process.  Hopefully there is a nugget of value for you too.

Here are my thoughts on blogging after a full year:

1. I tried to be too "official" at first.  If any of you have read my first few posts I wrote in very scientific research like ways trying to justify my thoughts.  I admit that this could make my thoughts more palatable to some, but as an exercise in free flowing thought (the purpose of blogging I suppose) there was little looseness in my style.  Over time this changed the way I thought about the blog, and hurt the process and the outcome.
2. Pressure to produce a great product hurt me producing any product.  At first I was worried about posts that would make people proud and inspire deep thought.  Looking back I assumed people would care more than I should.  Don't get me wrong I appreciate the time every person who is reading these words puts into reading them.  I just know that the reason I write is to help challenging my thinking, and the reason you all read is that you are looking for similar thought provoking (at least I hope) ideas or you care enough about me to give up five minutes of your day to hear me out.  Now that I have put to rest the pressures of quality (or tried) I feel more free to write what I really think.  Over time this will ideally produce a better overall result.  As one of my favorite movie lines goes "the key to writing is to write" (from Finding Forrester).  Now I think I have a better grasp on that.  Hopefully, you as readers will get better reading as a result of this new perspective and a better return on investment.
3. Remembering why I started has helped bring me back to blogging.  As a counseling student we were told time and time again the value of reflection.  At the time I did not give this thought as much credit as I should have.  Reflection is really the core of what makes life and vulnerability  worth it.  Now as a student who studies learning I again interact with reflection as a core component in a different but again valuable way.  Learning is far more effective and long lasting with reflection.  Now that relfection has been brought to my attention more times than it should be (only twice, which is more than it should have been), I am committed to it.  Reflection here I come.  
4. I know that the future will not be like the present.  Recently I have been dedicated more time to blogging than I have throughout the last few months.  I know that there will be time throughout the future months that I will likely write in similar streaks.  Embracing those streaks will make for a better experience.  Life is not always like clockwork, so the reality check is going to be good for me.  I plan to commit the time I can to this blog understanding the rich value it has.  The rest is a bonus.
5. Guilt is an odd and beautiful thing.  I find as I have written even this blog post that guilt has changed how I write, and how I feel about writing.  Throughout the two semesters this year there have always been other things that I could have written instead of this blog.  Guilt at times kept me from writing or even thinking about writing.  Guilt also kept me focused in times I probably needed it most (even if blog writing was not an output).  A balance of the two worlds is likely possible, and my quest over the remainder of my graduate career (and life after for that matter) is to try to find that balance.
6. Writing for even one reader makes it that much more fun.  Sherry Turkle, a faculty member at Massachusetts Institute of Technology writes a lot about human and technology interaction.  In her recent book Alone Together she discusses how the plethora of technology at our finger tips today has the potential to isolate humans from each other as much, if not more, than prior human history.  I agree with Turkle for the most part.  I think that the more we text each other and chat online, the more isolated we will feel over time.  Even the human voice over the phone has tremendous emotional value over text.  All this being said, I think technology has motivated my learning and reflection as a blogger.  Blogging is a funny thing.  In reality, I think that a blogger should write expecting only expecting their eyes to see their posts.  Ideally, one reader will attentively read a bloggers words and take a small nugget of knowledge that lightens or deepens their life.  This is where I separate from Turkle.  If one person reads what I write, and there is even the smallest bit of truth that resonates with that reader I am much more motivated to continue.  The effort of the one reader motivates a writer a substantial amount.  This idea might even break economics a bit (see prior posts).  A small demand might motivate a greater blogger supply.  This is the gem of blogging.  Passion is fueled by a minimal response.  That response is of great validation and can fortify the need to pursue blogging for all the wonderful and odd reasons listed above.  Perhaps Turke's thesis is right on, if I write this blog hoping that one person reads it the two of us are "alone together" but for me the motivation of writing with the thought that one other person will read it puts a solid expectation on me that is worth greater pursuit.  I gain by putting greater pressure on myself to think differently and try to articulate that though, and I hope at least one other person does too.  With this under my belt I will likely never be alone.  I will always be alone, together with someone else.

Thank you to those who have read and been patient with me this year.  I truly appreciate it.  Here is two more years of equally deep, if not deeper, learning for all of us.

Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.

Defense Against the Dark Arts

Today I had the opportunity to meet a person who has literally changed the scope of education for millions of people.  When we were loaded into the car, headed to lunch she asked if a fellow doctoral student and I were willing to accept some advice.  Clearly we were open to it.

In the Harry Potter series there is a course called Defense Against the Dark Arts.  This course is designed to prepare wizard students against sudden death, and dangerous situations.  As doctoral students prepare for oral prelims and dissertation defenses there is similar advice that crosses our paths for consideration.  By no means do I think any faculty would ever intentionally be difficult, but being prepared is worth consideration.

The advice that was shared with me today related to defenses, mostly dissertation defenses, but there is value across the board.

1. No one, not even your advisor knows your research like you do.  So you have that in your corner.  Just be prepared, and know that you have done the best you can up to your defense.
2. By the time you defend you're prepared to defend a dissertation there is little chance that faculty will fail you.  They have invested too much energy and time in you to let you fall so late in the process.  Also, there have been many other chances to catch your falls along the way.  This means ideally few surprises should remain.  If you are prepared to accept feedback, and have done your prep work all should be well.
3. Sometimes there will be simple questions just to show that the members have read your dissertation carefully.  This is a natural thing.  Just take the feedback in stride. 
4. If a faculty member has a suggestion that you had not considered but is if value, a response of "that is room for future research" may suffice.  
5. Select your committee carefully.  Dynamics between faculty members can make a defense more challenging.  If two faculty members have disagreement with each other that could make a defense more difficult than necessary and that could have little to do with any of your work.  If your topic requires faculty with a past you might not have choice.  But consider avoiding a conflict filled committee if possible.  Talking to an advisor could begin to clear this up some.

I will not defend for over two years, but I am grateful for all of the food for thought that I get along the way.  Our lunch date today was insightful and I am grateful for the thoughtful feedback.

Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.

Wisdom of the Phoenix

The phoenix, a mythological bird has had many fictional revivals of late.  Most notably in the Harry Potter book series.  For those who are not familiar, the phoenix is a mythical bird that in the end of its life bursts into flames until it is only ash and then hatches anew, young and refreshed.  This bird resonates with me in its power to rebuild itself.  I feel like as humans we do this in a less literal sense all the time.  Growing, and evolving, each time renewed as a different version of ourselves.  I like to think that this regeneration is one of the more enjoyable pursuits in life.  This fact is probably why I love graduate school, and running as much as I do.  There is so much learning and growing involved in both.

Graduate school has many cycles of regeneration.  Each breaking down ways of thinking, and perspective to build new.  This process is sometimes short, and other times long.  I would argue that this rebuilding is the one of the most challenging adjustments to graduate work, and one of the most important emotional preparations for success.  The sooner each of us can prepare to embrace the regenerative properties of graduate study the more quickly we can succeed.  The truth of the matter is, there is a great deal of rich feedback available in graduate work and the most successful students find ways to learn from that feedback more quickly and deeply.

I admit this adjustment has been a process for me.  The key from my processing thus far is grappling with the fact that feedback is not personal.  This sounds simple, but piled on with the other emotional adjustments involved in graduate work it becomes more complicated.  Faculty have the courage (sometimes more gracefully than others) to give us feedback to challenge our thinking and encourage our growth.  Even harsh feedback is sent from a place of investment in our growth.  As I write this I find it a hard concept to fully accept, but I do believe it to be true.  This post is a personal accountability to that line of thinking.

One thing that I know is a certainty from my research in teaching pedagogy and learning is that feedback and reflection are keys to learning.  Having the courage to foster feedback (even if it is rough) is critical to the learning that graduate study requires and should promote.  In time with feedback we can be remade into something better and fresh much like a refreshed phoenix.

Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.

The Best Offense

In sports there is a cliche that goes, "the best offense is a good defense."  In athletic context this is intended to describe the patience and lack of flash needed to win consistently in sports if a team pays attention to detail and has discipline.  Today I saw a different type of defense, a doctoral dissertation defense.  This defense required a completely different type of offense.

I would contend that successful doctoral study always involves keeping the end in mind.  This means that preparation for successful dissertation writing and defense should be a part of planning throughout graduate study.  This "offensive" proactive approach will contribute therein likely contribute to a good dissertation defense.  To me, having just seen my first defense there are some offensive strategies I plan to consider.  I am sure over time these will evolve and grow.

1. Get to know the faculty and how they respond to dissertations.  Each faculty member reviews and critiques dissertations differently.  Understanding which of their assets and approaches compliment and improve your work is important.  Attending dissertation defenses is a way to watch dynamics a unfold to better inform committee decisions.
2. With knowledge of consideration number one, I am going to make and effort to see all of the faculty in my department participate in a defense.  This will help me up my total knowledge of how they participate within a committee and how they might best positively challenge and push my work.

I am grateful that I took the opportunity to see a defense at this stage of my study.  I find myself more focused and aware of what the end goal is.  A focus that can only help my continued progress.

Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.

Why a Noun?

Several years ago I was asked (read honored) to give a keynote address to a group of students who were committed to developing as leaders at various two year colleges throughout Wisconsin.  For that speech I wanted to come up with a concise and simple way to describe the power of leadership, and the concept that came to me was the noun.  A noun as we all learned early on in our educational career is a person, place, thing or idea (ideas were added after my first experience with nouns).  To me the noun is a perfect metaphor for leadership because leadership is about people, places, things, and ideas that can challenge us, make us think, smile, and all around make us better people.


I cannot help but wonder now looking back how appropriate an example nouns to graduate school as well.  There are so many people that I am greatly indebted to, places that inspire and motive me, things that I have been afforded to do, and ideas that keep me up at night with excitement.  Too often I forget about these things because graduate school gets the best of me.  I am too caught up in what is happening now, and what needs to happen later to really appreciate how great and inspiring graduate school really is.  I hope this thought does not leave me so easily this time around.  I could use the inspiration sometimes, and I need to remember that it is all around just like nouns are all around us, in our speech, in our writing, and in everything we read.  Nouns too are in all around us in the people, places, things, and ideas that inspire us and remind us what is great about life (and even graduate school).  I am glad to be reconnected with my nouns, I hope you I hope you find a few nouns around too.


Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.

Economics

I hate to admit it, but my college economics professor was right.  Economics is all around us.  To me theories of economics find their relevance in my evaluation of time and effective use of the limited amounts of it within a graduate program.  Prior to enrolling as a full-time doctoral student I used to have a professional life.  A life that allowed me to volunteer for things, serve on committees, and engage in a variety of campus initiatives and community activities.  Throughout my first year it has been an adjustment to feel this change and its impact on my sense of belonging at my graduate assistantship.  At first, there were transitions associated with finding fit in a new place.  This adjustment takes time to network and find resources that are a good fit to appropriate use of professional skills.  In time more opportunities surface that are helpful, and contribute to both my personal professional growth but back to the institution and field.  I cannot lie, it is a good feeling to get back into that swing some.  In time, I like many other students and professionals in the field of student affairs found more areas of interest than there was time in the day.  This led me to think carefully about how to allocate time to best broaden my learning, while being of service to my institution and the greater good of higher education.  This cost benefit analysis has resulted in a model to inform my personal decision making.  


This model includes three options:

1. Lose, lose.  Taking on more than is manageable, ending up overwhelmed and with sacrificed quality overall.  This is possible, particularly if  the transition away from professional life and the active quest for new valuable experiences.  Being patient for good opportunities and being careful to 
2. Win, lose. Giving up something good for something better.  This is where I spend most of my time thinking, and I am sure other folks do to.  There are so many great opportunities to serve and learn that time and appropriate effort need to be carefully evaluated before adding or considering anything new.
3. Win, win. Intentional constructive networking and that contributes positively to an institutional initiative while challenging professional growth and learning.  This is ideal, but in moderation (refer to lose, lose).

While each of us have experience with making difficult decisions like this doctoral programs are different and challenge norms and ways of thinking.  With careful, realistic thought good decisions can be made that do not compromise academic work or sanity during graduate work.  


Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.

We Fall, So We Can Pick Ourselves Up

In the movie Batman Begins there is a great line where Alfred the butler tells a young Bruce Wayne that the purpose of falling is so "we can pick ourselves up."  I have been away from blogging for a while, and I admit that I feel guilt about it.  I honestly let myself make too many excuses.  As a result, I have come to realize that this blog (and the reflection associated with it) is important to me and my development.  My "falling" has led to "picking myself up" with a new and refreshed frame of myself.  Here is to a refreshed spirit, and new reflections.

Week Thirteen: Mining for Gold

In some of the small amount of my free time I have taken to watching the television show Gold Rush.  Within the show several groups of miners are on the quest for gold amidst the recent Alaskan gold rush.  I cannot help but reflect on the fact that to me the process of determining a research interest or dissertation topic is much like the process of mining for gold.  It involves sifting through many topic options, at first large and then progressively smaller until the final stages where nuggets are uncovered.  As graduate students we develop inquiry depth within our courses over time.  Throughout that process we narrow down interests.  Topics narrow first in large chunks, either by eliminating or highlighting potential options.  As time passes, interests continue to narrow until there a research need, the gold at the end of the mining process is found.

In a previous entry I mentioned the venn diagram that represents the need for research to fit within an area of need within a field of research.  Further reading on that post is located in the Week Nine entry.

Like mining, research also involves instincts.  At first we follow our gut to places that feel like they might be a good fit.  They are exciting, intriguing and spark additional curiosity.  In time we continue to read and stumble upon resources that refine our research topics.  Throughout this process we also are afforded the chance to network with other researchers who have input, ideas and resources that can continue to add depth.

At a conference this past weekend I interacted with a prominent researcher in Higher Education that made a great point about how her research interests unfolded that resonated with me.  She said that throughout her career she had things that caught her interests and somehow an opportunity serendipitously was presented that allowed her to pursue.  Each step she took, another opportunity managed to present itself to her leading to her current work.  She referred to opportunities as doors that opened that she just had to “walk through”.  To me this spoke to the patience required to pursue passions.  There is time needed to network and build resources worth chasing.  All of this time is worth using and remembering.  The process of narrowing research is not easy, and I am sure at times is frustrating.  Reminders like this  are important to hold onto throughout the process that lies ahead.

Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.

Week Twelve: Writing with Style

As writers we have a lot to learn.  At least I know I do.  At a recent conference I heard several veteran writers in Higher Education say that they too always worked on improving their writing.  So I am hoping that I am not alone on this one.

John Trimble in his book Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing now in its 3rd edition he addresses some basic strategies that help a writer improve writing style and practice.  I admittedly have not read it yet but it is at the top of my end of semester reading list.  The reason I bring this up is the writing process as a graduate students is in my experience one that takes ownership by each author.  I need to take responsibility for myself as a writer and challenge myself to continue to grow as a writer.  Starting with books like Trimbles.  At this point of my academic journey I have identified the following steps that I need to pursue to improve as a writer.

• Practice writing in different styles.  To be an effective researcher and scholar each writer needs to develop different styles to use to address the different media types available.  The style I use on this blog (a rather non-academic approach) is not even remotely the same as the style it would take to be considered for an academic journal.  To improve as a writer I need to practice writing in different media and have experience writing through different "lenses".
• Accepting feedback.  On a run this evening I saw a sign in the football weight room that read "Pain is weakness leaving the body".  This is not a unique sign to this campus or to this weight room but it got me thinking about feedback and writing.  As writers we need a tremendous amount of feedback to develop good work and publish professional materials.  As a graduate student is we had a mythical "weight room" I think this sign would read "Feedback is key to weakness leaving your work".  It is important to learn to embrace feedback.
• Build a network.  In a recent conference session I heard a speaker discuss her network of writing friends who promise to critique and be honest about each others work.  Even though I am early in my academic career I find myself on the lookout for people who might fit this mold.  Folks who I can benefit as much or more than could benefit me.  It will take the help of others for me to learn and grow to my potential.  I too want to pay that forward to others.  Now is as good a time as any to get that process started.
• Write every day.  I heard it recently said that writing is a habit that needs to be practiced.  This applies to graduate students too.  While it is not easy to write additional work than is expected of us it is important to keep the writing muscles sharp and practiced.

Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.

Materials to support writing:

Belcher, W. L. (2009). Writing your journal article in 12 weeks: A guide to academic publishing success. Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

Bolker, J. (1998). Writing your dissertation in 15 minutes a day: A guide to starting, revising, and finishing your doctoral thesis. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.

Graff, G., Birkenstein, C., & Durst, R. K. (2009). They say/I say: The moves that matter in academic writing : With readings. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Co.

Trimble, J. R., (2010). Writing with style: Conversations on the art of writing (3rd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Week Ten: I am Lucky (and I think you are too)

When I was in college I saw a commercial once that depicted a man painting a picture from within a wheelchair.  This would not have been terribly uncommon or memorable had the man not been using his teeth to paint because he was unable to move any of the the rest of his body.  Throughout this short clip he struggled to complete his painting, dropping his brush many times.  The commercial captured what appeared to be a very frusterating process, but enjoyable process for the artist.  In the end, his labor of love was complete and the commercial just showed three words typed by the artist and read by computer softward that said.  "I am lucky."  I wish I could find this add on youtube to share with you, I unfortunately could not.  I do remember it vividly though and came back to me this week.

I don’t tell myself this enough but I am truly lucky to have the opportunities to pursue graduate education.  This is not something that many people have the opportunity to do.  As of 2005 according to the National Institute of Educational Statistics only 5.9% of Americans had completed a masters degree and 1.1% completed a doctorate (National Institute, 2011).  Wikipedia also has some charts and graphs associated with educational attainment that are worth looking into.  The bottom line is I find myself in a very small group of people who are blessed with a chance to pursue a graduate degree.  This is a message that I need to keep reminding myself of, I sometimes get bogged down in the work and the difficulty associated with the program and do not think about what a privilege this is.

As a part of a class discussion this week the following article was discussed about the shape of the future of higher education.  The article is written by Walter Benn Michaels, professor of English at the University of Illinois at Chicago and titled “The Trouble with Diversifying Faculty”, it was published in Liberal Education which can be found here. The premise is that the primary group that is oppressed in admission processes of universities are financially underprivileged students. One of the summary quotes as highlighted by Rick Reis a faculty member at Stanford was:

“And, of course, what it also means is that the underrepresentation of African Americans in colleges and universities has nothing to do with those universities keeping out African Americans (or, for that matter, Hispanics and Native Americans). Universities don’t keep out minority students; they keep out poor students.”

It is not my intention for this quote to cause controversy or debate, but more an appreciation for what could become a growing trend.  I mention it more because it reminds my of just how lucky I am to have ended up where I have.  I want to make sure that I use this time and this privilege for good.  This just fortifies in me the purpose of my educational pursuits.  I want to further myself to help narrow the access gaps in higher education.  It is unfair to presume that our country can continue to grow and solve the complex problems we face if we continue to shut out access to education from anyone.  

The level of success I will achieve on this venture I am not sure, but it is still important to me to have a reminder every once and a while that I am lucky, and that anyone else pursuing graduate education is too.


Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.


Resources:

National Institute of Educational Statistics. (2011). Retrieved from, http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d05/tables/dt05_009.asp

Michaels, Walter Benn (2011). The Trouble with Diversifying the Faculty. Liberal education, 97 (1), p. 14.

Week Nine: Finding a Niche

One of the most enjoyable components of graduate education is the opportunity to mold curriculum to individual interests.  As a supplement to core coursework strong electives can help provide unique marketing opportunities for the professional impact of each student.  Electives and additional coursework build cognates, which are similar to minors in undergraduate education. They serve as a group of courses that help to construct a field expertise.

The challenge of this process comes within the process of choosing courses that both meet interests and are marketable within a designated professional field.  If this was drawn as a venn diagram it would include the intersection [C] of a circle titled “field needs” [A] and another titled “professional passions” [B].  

The challenge of this search is that it is unique to each person.  

The way I have started to break this down is by considering the following factors:

1. What are my goals upon graduation?
• I plan to apply for faculty positions, so my research should fill a field void and begin a research niche.
• If I were to be pursuing administrative work my research could compliment my work to solidify professional expertise and supplement my future professional administrative work.
2. What are my realistic areas of interest?
3. How do these interests fit within my field of study?
4. What courses would compliment this pursuit best?

This is an evolving process, but reflecting on it over time will help to seek out courses that come up throughout the program that might supplement my cognate. It is important to me to find courses that are a strong fit, this will likely involve patience which is difficult because it would feel so much better to have a degree plan laid out. I just have to remind myself that there is plenty of time.

A quote "every passion has a destiny" by Barry Miles rings true to me as I consider this process. The development of this quote actually has an interesting story. I firmly believe that it is the goal of each of us to find out what out greatest passion is in life and find a way to pursue it in everyday life. It is my hope that targeted coursework can help me find that path, and I hope you find yours too.

Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.

Week Eight: Homeostasis

In the 1996 film Bio-Dome two quirky characters (Bud and Doyle) get roped into a project to rescue self-contained environment project.  A plot twist incurs where substantial damage is done to the dome that needs to be repaired internally.  As the film progresses Bud and Doyle work hard to restore the “Bio-Dome” to homeostasis, or “the property of a system that regulates its internal environment and tends to maintain a stable, constant condition of properties” (Homeostasis, 2011).  To me, being a graduate student is at times like physically being an organic dome  that undergoes unnecessary or unusual stress, much like the stress put on the Bio-Dome.  We too need to constantly seek out ways to retain homeostasis and balance within our lives.

As another perspective on this similar thought I am reminded of the book Tau Te Ching roughly translated as “the book of the way”.  This book is a modern translation of the writings of the philosopher Lao-tzu originating around 500 B. C.  Within this book one of the entries states the following,

“Being and non-being create each other.

Difficult and easy support each other.

Long and short define each other.

High and low depend on each other.

Before and after follow each other” (Mitchell, 1988, p. 2).

This quote eloquently describes the extremes that exist in life and how they are dependent on each other.  There are extremes in everything that happens in daily life, and at times those extremes are created by us as individuals.  This thought helps remind me that within doctoral graduate study it is important to remain level headed and balanced.  To not celebrate productivity too hard, and to not let the work load weigh you down too much.  To not let great results get you too high, or to let poor results get you too low.  The process of graduate study is about learning, so we must remain focused on what lessons and feedback are available to us to learn from.  For the next three years there will always be plenty to do and it will only be accomplished one word at a time.  Remaining on the level can help to preserve and balance emotional peaks and valleys associated with the journey.

I don’t intend to sound like we should all take on the qualities of drones that just slowly drudge through our work.  I am just realizing that if I let it, the work load and stress associated with graduate study could weigh me down more than it should.

I will try to remind myself of this as I continue to make progress through the work that remains this semester and in semesters to follow.

Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.


Resources:

Blumenthal, J. (Producer), & Bloom, J. (Director). (1996). Bio-Dome. [Motion Picture]. United States: MGM.

Mitchell, S. (1988). Tao te ching. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

Week Seven: Re-Group

This is a little behind schedule, my apologies.  I have been on fall break, which relates to the topic of the week.

Within the semester there is time built in to give students a chance to re-group and re-energize.  This week was fall break and it was nice to have some time to relax and look at projects that lie ahead throughout the semester.  That was my activity for this week.  Getting refreshed, and re-grouped to be as aggressive as possible with the remaining work of the semester.  This rest will pay off in fighting off germs and illness later on in the semester (I hope).

This time also serves as a good chance to evaluate what lies ahead and what the priorities remaining for the rest of the semester are.  This includes working ahead on some projects that will take considerable time and effort, reducing the stress that will be be present within the closing weeks of the semester.

Techniques I have tried that may or may not be worth considering.

• Work small amounts on final projects each day of the break to chip away at them and feel a bit more confident in their direction.

Week Six: Mentors and Motivators

Like most terminology the word mentor has Greek origins.  To read a story about where the term mentor was devised check here.

Turner states that a mentor is “an experienced person who advises, guides, teaches, inspires, challenges and corrects, and serves as a role model” (Turner, 2004, p.5).  Mentors have  a critical educational value in graduate education.  Many of us are surrounded by people who have knowledge and expertise and are more than willing to share what they know to help others learn and grow.  It is important to capitalize on these opportunities whenever possible.

To me there are three types of mentors.  

• Those who have the position you would like to have and can give you insights on how to get there.
• Those that do not have the position you would like but have many skills and resources to develop skills necessary to reach your professional goals.
• Those that are in a similar position (other graduate students) to you that have great perspective on how to be successful and navigate graduate school.  Their insights will probably be more raw and practical and help you survive and capitalize on opportunities within the program.  Asking real questions to these folks helps navigate the intricacies of a graduate program.

All three types of mentors offer tremendous wisdom and insight that is necessary to progress through the program and eventually professionally.  Finding folks that are easy to connect with to foster these outstanding learning and networking opportunities is a key to graduate student success.  This process loosely involves the following steps

1. Identify individuals who have similar passions and interests (see above categories)
2. Initiate contact and relationship
3. Foster relationship
4. Secure a project or committee that connects you to them for a longer duration of time to build a relational depth (If geographic proximity is a challenge keeping a mentor in the loop about what is happening in your professional world helps keeps ties fresh)

Motivators are people that help remind us of why we are committed to our work.  They can be students, children, family, colleagues or someplace random like this.  Reminding in touch with motivators can help in times of struggle or lack of professional clarity.  We have all had days that were harder than others.  Those are the days that I find myself needing to remember motivators and their value to me.  As I write this I am thinking about needing a refresher.  

Techniques I have tried that may or may not be worth considering.

• Being proactive to reach out to people that I feel a connection with so far.
• Say thank you to those who are helpful to you.  I know that I would not be where I am without some tremendous people.  I do not thank them enough.  So this message serves as a reminder that I should send thanks to them again.
• Remembering in times of struggle that there are motivators out there that can keep you in touch with the purpose of the journey. 

Quote that best represents the week.

• One of my favorite books of all time.  Tuesdays with Morrie is filled with great quotes, but here are two favorites
• "The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in" (Albom, 1997, p. 52).
• "In the beginning of life, when we were infants, we need others to survive, right? And at the end of life, when you get like me, you need others to survive, right? But here's the secret: in between, we need others as well" (p. 157).

Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.

Resources:

Albom, M. (1997). Tuesdays with Morrie. New York, NY: Doubleday.

Neteinstein (2007, February 11).  Team Hoyt - Dick and Rick Hoyt. Retrieve September 30, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flRvsO8m_KI.

Turner,  M. (2004). Mentoring: an overview.  Retrieved from

http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/hr/mentoring/Mentoring-anOverviewMikeMunroTurner.pdf